To much buying on line

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
21

That’s assuming you have a local hobby shop and that is has a test track. The nearest thing to me that could be considered a local hobby shop is 70 miles away in Tucson, Arizona within an Ace Hardware store. They have no test track, and it’s the only one in Tucson.

If they don’t have what I’m looking for, they always say, “We can order it for you.” Even when considering handling and shipping charges from some of the mail order sources, they’re still cheaper and much more convenient than another trip to Tucson, so I let UPS, FedEx, or USPS do the driving.

22

Let’s see, the nearest hobby store is 25 miles away and doesn’t carry my scale and very minimal scratch building supplies plus no discounting. The nearest hobby store with my scale is 90 miles away and also doesn’t discount. Online is a click away and frequently I can get a discount. So online and shows are pretty much it for me.

Enjoy

Paul

23

Lots of good points. Here a few thoughts from someone who once ran a train department in a hobby shop:

I support 4-5 reasonably close local shops, most have good prices.

I also buy online, for convience, selection and price.

Hobby shops, or model traijn only shops, need to have both price and selection to get people in the door and out from in front of their computers.

We saw the rapid growth of products in the 80’s and could see a day when shops would have to be much larger, have large more complete inventories, and good prices to compete. - That day is here - Caboose hobbies, MB Klein, Nicholas Smith Trains, Trainworld, Star Hobby, Mainline Hobby Supply, etc.

AND to do that they all need a successful web/mail/phone order business serving customers who are not close enough to “drive by”. And many also have a train show presence as well.

Intersting, most all of the online purchasing I do, is from shops like these who also have brick and mortar stores. so by purchasing online I am supporting someone elses “local hobby shop”.

Small local shops with limited inventory are of little use anymore and really don’t stand a chance. If I go there, I want to take it home today, not special order it. If I want to special order it, I can do that from home.

Itr’s all about inventory - that’s why/how the manufacturers are killing the hobby shops, and the hobby, with this preorder non sense. If a shop owner has nothing to show a customer, especially a new commer to the hobby, how is the customer supposed to get excited about the hobby? OR, even feel like an investment in model trains is a good idea? Stores with incomplete inventories leave customers feeling like they might not be able to ever get what they need or want to build their layout. Again, especially NEW PEOPLE.

We have talked endlessly on here about the lack of younger modelers - the long display cases filled with locos in the shop I ran, or in MB Klein when I was even younger, are an import

24

The only LHS near me is Hobbytown USA and they have a limited stock in HO and only carry Digitrax DCC stuff (plus some MRC?). I live in Knoxville, TN and most of the rolling stock there is NS or Southern or CSX. I model the NYC and don’t find much there I can use (locos). Also, the staff there is not very well informed when it comes to DCC so I have to research stuff on my own (on the internet, like this forum; a lifeline for me!).

I am retired and have a limited budget for my trains so I use the internet for about 80% of my purchases. I love to go to hobby shops and see the items and just browse, but when you don’t have a LHS that suits your needs you have to go elsewhere. I would rather buy locally and did years ago when there were several hobby shops near me. They are becoming a lost breed and it is a shame. Buying online has it’s problems and it’s benefits, but you have to be more carefull when choosing a supplier. Ebay can be risky too. Buyer be ware! Unfortunately!

Bob

25

No matter how tightly you cling to “The way we’ve always done it”; no matter how loudly you shout “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”; change is inevitable. Even the large national chains of brick and mortar stores also have an on line store. Those on line stores have a greater variety of products available than the brick and mortar version of the same store. Sometimes the exact same product is cheaper in the on line store than the same company sells it in the brick and mortar store. The simple fact is that it is cheaper to do business out of a single warehouse than it is to maintain a distribution network and inventory scattered among multiple locations.

It is the way it has always been. People fought the advent of the automobile. Laws were even passed to keep those new fangled devices from scaring the horses or annoying people with their noise. But the automobile prevailed none the less and now those protectionist laws seem silly to us.

Time marches on, and on line shopping is the way of the future. I have a hobby shop close enough to walk to, and I use him as often as I can, but he just can’t carry everything that I need to buy.

26

I haven’t seen anyone touch on this point in particular (though I only skimmed the longer posts).

I have about half of one train shop. It sells HO equipment, some O, very little N, and scenery materials. It is also a golf pro-shop and driving range. I’ll let you figure out where they make their money.

The next closer shop is about 40 minutes away and also has a small selection of N scale stuff. (I don’t usually drive down there because my back is messed-up and 40 minutes in a car can be extremely painful.)

My area cannot support a brick-and-mortar train shop (or a substantial train section of a hobby shop). That might be because online retailers have driven them out of business or because there’s not enough interest in the area; I don’t know. I moved here 5 1/2 years ago and this was the state I found it in.

This past year, I started my first layout in 20+ years. Regardless of why I don’t have better local options, if I could not buy online, I wouldn’t be in the hobby at all. It’s sad to say it, but it’s true.

27

I live two and a quarter hours from a hobby shop that is relatively well stocked. They are not on-line and do not carry some of the things I can find at an online hobby shop.

Occasionally, I order things from them and they will either hold them for me, or ship them if the order is small items that can go in a model box or envelope.

I think that if the hobby shops wish to compete in this world, they have to go internet - and have the inventory to back up the online orders.

28

I will add that is assuming he has new stock on his shelves and not outdated stock that been on his shelves for years.

29

You are right! And some LHS will order for you as a “if you don’t like it, call the mfg” approach. I live in an area (Upstate, SC) which has pretty good access to hobby shops, particularly within a few hours drive. Like Atlantic Central pointed out, they need good inventory and service. I too have been to MB Klein as well as most of the big stores and they try to make the drive worthwhile. And they have online stores, thankfully.

With all the posts on this subject, it is something we all appreciate

Richard

30

I have read the OP’s post and will respond. I will admittedly admit to admitting that I did not read all posts, so I may echo some, and point-counterpoint others, or give new food for thought.

I SIMPLY WISH TO POINT OUT WE ARE DOING NOTHING DIFFERENT THAN OVER 125 YEARS AGO!

The world is going computerized, like it or not. Even my Dr.s are now “electronically prescribing medications directly over the computer to my pharmacy for my medications”. My medical records everywhere are being made available online to each Dr.'s office and the hospitals to speed up recording processies. They now share my records so one Office will know what of the 25 prescriptions I am taking{some are machines like O2 generators or breathing machines} will benefit or interact with others they would like to change or add.

I LIKE to go into an LHS. I LIKE to see products, to look at them, to touch them, to feel them, to measure them maybe and maybe even smell them {kidding, though some glues bear sniffing to see if breathing can handle their potencies.} I LIKE to go LOOK at products on shelves. I LIKE to peruse my way through a few boxes full or a few peg racks of WoodlandS cenics or {rarely} Preiser figures and scenery items looking for “just what I might need” to complete my scene. Problem is my back can’t hold out anymore.I like to buy what I see that I want.

I also have become what I never thought I would- an online orderer- of many things - not just trains stuff. I have friends who only shop in a food store for foood…everything else they order online! AND even some food {Ohmaha Steaks for example they order online}} Litterally, including their $800 Xmas tree! ANd trhe decorations on it! AND I Am slowly becoming a convert:

1} I can find my size in clothing like a 28 29"inseam I need on pants that I have to suffer with and hem a 30" in a store bought purchase.

2} They usually have in stock or available my size in any clothing it

31

How about both?

I have 2 here that seem to have all kinds of different things … no need to do the weaselbay thing here…

32

My closest MR hobby shop is a 3-4 hour drive. A local “Toy Store” carries a nice line of scenery products, catering to the military diorama crowd I would guess, but that’s it. The shop used to carry a rather complete array of supplies but the local community of modelers ( RR and others) just wasn’t enough to make it worth while.Michael’s is good for scenery items as well.

I would prefer to see and touch the article I’m buying, but won’t drive for 8 hours (round trip) to do it. I usually make 3 to 6 trips a year to the Seattle area to see the grand kids and take my shopping list with me. On occasion I’ve shopped in Portland on my way North when I call ahead to pick up an item I need.

Walther’s is my friend, as well as the hobby shop listing in MR. The list MR has is/was very helpful during the current code 55 right hand turnout “national crisis” :slight_smile: .

It’s not just model RR supplies. Try finding model airplane building supplies for anything other than R/C. Same goes for wooden ship modeling supplies. I build old time rubber and gas free flight as well as the occasional ship model.

I’m thinking that modeling in general is on the wane. I fear too many people are just buying instant gratification.

33

Not a big deal. This is just the world evolving. Deal with it. I love buying on line. If you know how to search, you can find all the info about a particular product with reviews and pictures.

I have to admit you have a pretty good mini rant. I hope you feel better now. I think you are watching too many science fiction movies.

Rich

34

Larry, a GOOD shop has both old and new - “out dated” what is that? Just because it has not been made in the last 6 months does not make it outdated.

That’s what’s wrong with this hobby and it’s industry right now.

“Collecting” is about buying the latest thing, “Model Railroading” is about gathering all the needed bits to build a model layout - regarless of when they were “manufactured”.

Shops that don’t keep lder items for those who might want them are another reason local shops are on the decline.

Sheldon

35

Larry, a GOOD shop has both old and new - “out dated” what is that? Just because it has not been made in the last 6 months does not make it outdated.

Sheldon

How about stock dating back 10-12 years? Does that count as “outdated” stock? I seen MT cars that dated back to '97 at one shop…One shop still has a BB Trainmaster!

I fear you are thinking old stock being less then a year old while I am talked about antiqued stock.Sure one receives new stock(mostly RTR freight cars) on a regular bases but,90% of time you need to special order.

36

Also, most local hobby shops do not spcialize in just model railroading. Most have to diversify into model airplanes, RC cars, and plastic military model kits in order to make enough profit to stay afloat. There is only so much shelf space, so most of the time is I need/want something specific, my only source is online.

Chris

37

What about OOP s?

My favorite? How about ARNOLD S-2’s? When did these come out? I ended up finding 6 of these in a LHS here for about $60 for the lot…[:-^][:-,]

So there will always be something that might surprise you at a LHS…

38

Personally, I love to peruse old stock that’s 10 or 20+ years old especially the old wood craftsman kits with metal detail parts or the old all metal (not brass) locomotive kits. I know they usually aren’t as good as the latest plastic RTR, but I like building them anyway. Unfortunately, the hobby shops near me that had been in business literally for decades are gone, the owners retired or died - probably both by now. Somehow a plastic/resin kit just isn’t the same.

Enjoy

Paul

39

Well, when the nearest shop with decent inventory (in this case a train shop, not a generalized hobby shop) is a 150 mile roundtrip, its get expensive real fast to drive to it. At an average $3.25/gallon here, the gas price alone on a car that gets 30 mpg is $16.25. Not only that, there’s the time factor. A single trip to that shop, with decent dwell time in the shop can occupy a good part of the day.

The last hobby shop in my immediate area was a generalized hobby hobby shop that went out of business over 5 years ago that charged full retail for everything they carried. As far as their model railroad stock was concerned, they carried nothing of what I was looking to buy.

My preference, all else being equal, is to go to the shop mentioned in the first sentence and since one of the kids lives within a 10 minute drive of the shop, I’ll make every effort to go to it, but only as an adjunct to a visit with the kids. Otherwise, it’s too expensive to make a trip for the sole purpose of visiting that shop.

It’s all very well to advocate support of a local hobby shop, but the sine qua non of that advocacy is that there has to be a local hobby shop to support.

Andre

40

No, 10-12 year old stuff is not “automaticly” “out of date”.

I realized they are now “out of production”, but as an example, an undecorated Athearn Blue Box 40’ reefer, which is made with the EXACT SAME PARTS as its new Ready to Roll versions, is NEVER outdated.

If it was, than Athearn would have had to retool it for their current line, yet they seem to be selling quite well in RTR form.

SO, for a modeler like myself, who freelances and paints/letters a lot of rolling stock, I don’t care if that item was made in 2005, 1990 or 1975, its the same item and suits my needs/wants.

A piece of Cal Scale is a piece of Cal Scale, no experation date.

“MT”? Micro Trains? I don’t model or follow N scale but I’ll bet someone somewhere would be happy to find those. That fits right into everything I said about modern shops needing to have a web/phone/mail order presence to be successfull in the current market.

OK, with the advancements in loco performance and detail, there may be some 20 year old stuff nobody wants, but I have bought lots of Proto2000 stuff 10 years after it was made, and still watch for it everywhere I go.

I was not just refering to locos, there is a lot more to this hobby than locomotives.

I always look for Blue Box kits, Roundhouse,